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Marques Brownlee - iPhone 17 Pro Review: Paradox in a Box!

Thumbnail of the video “Marques Brownlee - iPhone 17 Pro Review: Paradox in a Box!”
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Author: Marques Brownlee
Categories: Technology
Tags: technology
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 08:10 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: The iPhone 17 Pro is a stronger, more "pro" phone than before, with a new all-metal body, a vapor chamber, a 20% bigger battery, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera, so it is a good buy for people who want the best iPhone experience. The reviewer notes that the base iPhone 17 remains the best deal for most buyers, while the Pro Max is the most popular model by sales.

Key Points

  • The Pro models are thicker than last year, which allowed for a bigger battery, a vapor chamber, and a larger camera system.
  • All three rear cameras are now 48-megapixel, and the telephoto is a 4X lens, giving more detail and less noise for zoom shots.
  • The body is now a single unibody metal design rather than a glass sandwich, improving durability and making room for cooling.
  • Performance improved with the A19 Pro chip, benchmarked around 20% faster than last generation, and the vapor chamber helps sustain frame rates and brightness.
  • The Pro Max's battery exceeds 5,000 mAh for the first time, paired with 40-watt charging, and the display peaks at 3000 nits.
  • The reviewer notes several gaps: The reviewer notes several nitpicks: no black Pro color, possible anodization scratching ("Scratchgate") still being evaluated, and no 8K video support.

Details Worth Noting

  • The 2X zoom increments use a sharpened crop of the 48-megapixel sensor rather than a true optical lens, so the result is better than a plain digital crop but not as good as true optical zoom.
  • ProRes RAW footage lets you change ISO and white balance after shooting in Final Cut Pro 11.2, though file sizes are very large.
  • Genlock support was added, letting multiple devices stay in sync during large multi-device shoots.
  • The point-light flare problem at night was not fixed this year.
  • PWM dimming toggle is now available in accessibility settings, and satellite connectivity now covers messaging and location sharing.

Bottom Line

The iPhone 17 Pro is best suited to buyers who want maximum camera, battery, and performance gains, while the base model offers the better value for most people.